Chavarah- Jewish Community Learning

A blog of Jewish study and traditions. Notes from classes: Torah Study with Rabbi Marder, Toledot and Shabbaton as well as other details found of interest.

IF you want to be part of our Chavarah email group let me know at carol@traditionsrenewed.com

Saturday, December 16, 2006

Permanence vs Impermanence

Write it down. Put it in stone. Make it permanent.

Adam Allenberg, HUC student intern, led Torah Study through the maze of discussion from the permanence of writing the laws on stone, plaster or not, how to make the laws last through generations, writing on stones as markers of the territory, oral vs written law and the role of the elders in the community.

The writing of the law was important as noted in Deuteronomy 27:1-3. But there was no archaeological evidence of this being done. Nevertheless, the law HAS been passed down all the way to the current generation.

The law has been flexible and changed in interpretation. The law has been inflexible as it has been written in Torah and not changed. Both permanent and impermanent at the same time.

The contrast of the oral tradition and the written law was explored (as well as the role of women in passing down the stories and laws - thanks Randi). But it is the balance of these traditions and the evolution of impermanent interpretation along side the permanence of the written word that has sustained the basis of our code from generation to generation.

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